Sociopaths and Serial Killers

BY: Montana

Disclaimer: I do not own Jean-Claude, Richard, Anita, Edward, or anything else that belongs to LKH.

Author Note: This is set after Obsidian Butterfly.

Lunch was good. I got a choice between Mexican food, Mexican food, more Mexican food, or American. Guess what I picked? The cheeseburger was good, they didn’t slip any chili peppers into it.

I had some questions to ask. Halfway through lunch, I decided to ask them. “Olaf knows where your house is. What makes us so safe there?”

Edward smiled his good ol’ boy smile, playing Ted in public. “Well, I know Sante Fe better than St. Louis. It’s an advantage. If and when he comes to town, we can get rid of him here.”

“Yeah, great. I wonder how many more women will die until we can get this resolved.”

“No more have died, since we left St. Louis, Anita.”

“How do you know that?”

“I have my sources.” He smiled that knowing smile. That news didn’t surprise me.

“Ok, you have everything under control. Good to know, as usual. So what about Itzpapalotl. We haven’t heard a peep out of her. I thought we’d here something, I kinda invaded her turf uninvited.”

Once again, that smile. “Itzpapalotl? What Itzpapalotl?”

I raised an eyebrow. “You killed her?”

He took a sip of water. “Let’s just say I’ve started a butterfly collection.” He looked at me over his glass. There was triumph in his eyes.

“An illegal butterfly collection.”

“Maybe.”

“And how much were you paid for that butterfly?”

“Enough,” was his simple answer. Did I really expect to get much more? Not really. But a girl can dream, can’t she?

We paid for the meal, and went outside. Everything was rather quiet on the little street. We were a little bit on the outside of town, there weren’t that many people. But this was ridiculous. A man brushed by us, accidentally bumping into me. “Excuse me,” he said, and walked on. After walking on a few steps, he suddenly turned and swung out at me. Edward pulled me back with one arm, drawing the gun with another. A loud bang rendered the man dead on the ground, but not before he had done his damage. A red slice wound was on Edward’s right shoulder, bleeding. I had drawn my gun, but didn’t get off a shot. I didn’t need to, it only took one with Edward.

Both of our eyes darted around, looking for threats and targets. And boy did we find them. About 20, to be specific. They all stepped out of the alleys between the buildings, and made a wide circle around us. They were all dressed in black, like the dead man on the ground. “It’s a little hot for that monochromatic scheme, isn’t it?” I said loudly. They ignored me. Edward and I stood back to back, slowly making our way towards the hummer. “We can’t kill all of them before they rush us,” I whispered.

“I know.”

“So what do you suggest.”

“I would suggest we get in the car, NOW!”

We sprinted towards the hummer. As soon as we burst into motion, so did they. Edward had one of those door unlocker beep beep thingies on his key chain that unlocked just the driver’s side door. I opened the door, crawling into the passenger side. Edward was right behind me. He started up the Hummer, and we started off down the street. The guys jumped out of the way, they weren’t suicidal.

“Now who else is trying to kill us?” I growled, buckling my seat belt. “And buckle up,” I demanded as the click of my belt sounded. Edward obeyed, his eyes fixed on both the road, and the rear view mirror.”

“You want to know who else is trying to kill us?”

“Yes.”

“Well look behind you, because we’ve got company.”

I looked behind us. Three black cars were tailing us close behind, and gaining. One pulled up to the side of the hummer, ramming into the side. It was a little car, like a VW jetta or something. But it still pushed us over, almost into the concrete barrier of the highway. But, the driver didn’t count on the fact that the Hummer would push that little bitch ass thing further. Edward turned the wheel sharp to the right, sending the car off the side of the road. It careened into a telephone pole. Sucks to be them. There might have been survivors, but by the look of the front of the car, I doubted it. Crashing into telephone poles while going 80 miles an hour was not agreeable for one’s health.

“One down, two to go.” Edward murmured. They both advanced. One from behind, one on the side. We were just exiting the municipal highway, continuing out to the long desert stretch that would lead to the next town, eventually. And also Edward’s house, although that was closer by. The highway was raised up here, about 5 feet above the land. Edward eyed the desert along side us. “Have you ever been four wheeling, Anita?” he asked, keeping an eye on the two black cars and the road at the same time. It appeared there were two more cars behind those two, that just showed up. Fuck. Edward noticed them before I did.

I looked down at the dry desert that stretched out below and to the side of us. I got an idea of what he was thinking. Shit. No, double shit. “Edward,” I warned. He smiled.

“Hold on.”

“I think this is a bad idea, Edward,” I said, grabbing the door handle.

“I think it’ll be fun,” he said sarcastically, his eyes gone cold and empty for the cars surrounding us. “Watch this,” he said under his breath. I suspected he was talking to himself.

Edward put on the brakes, hard, smashing into the smaller car behind us. It hit with a big jolt that rocked my neck. The car to the side of us zoomed on, out of our way for the window we needed. Edward hit the gas, and we veered off the side of the road in a mini-impression of Evil Kinevil. My eyes widened, but I didn’t scream. We landed hard on the ground with a huge bump, but the shocks held out, we were still in one piece. And the little cars couldn’t follow us out here, even if they could get off the highway without rolling all to hell and killing themselves.

I let out a deep breath as we sped across the desert. “Damn,” was all I could say for a while. “Who were they?”

“I have no clue,” Edward answered. His expression told me he was deep in thought.

“Were they after you or me?” I asked

“Well, the guy tried to stab you. By the way, there’s a first aid kit under the seat. Could you do something about this arm for me?” I nodded, retrieving the first aid kit while listening to Edward. “I couldn’t be Olaf. He works alone. And he wants to kill you up close and personal, not in a fiery crash or walk by slashing.” I nodded, tightening the bandage on his upper arm. “Riker’s gone. Itzpapalotl’s gone. And then…” Edward’s voice trailed off in thought. I watched his eyes go from perplexed to the “no one is home” look. “Edward?” He glanced at me, then back to the desert. “You know who it is, don’t you?”

“I have an educated guess.”

“Who.”

“Not telling yet.”

“Damn it, Edward!”

“I said YET. Don’t get your feathers too ruffled.”

Oooo. Yet. Which meant he might tell me, and he might not. Yeah! Can you feel the sarcasm? “Where are we going?” Switch of subjects.

“Back to the house.”

“I take it you know a back way.”

“Yes I do.”



Edward's POV or the NEXT CHAPTER or the INDEX